Warren used to be a town with multiple newspapers.

Such was the case in 1918 so we can get a second look at the Spanish Influenza epidemic, the world’s last pandemic.

The Warren Morning Chronicle reported extensively on the pandemic in the Oct. 20, 1918, edition.

“The Spanish influenza epidemic at the State Hospital seems to be on the increase,” it reported. “It was reported last night that there were twenty new cases of the disease at that place.”

The headline: “Epidemic May Break Out on Short Notice Say Warren Health Officials.”

“But eight new cases of Spanish influenza have been reported to the health officers during the last twenty-four hours,” the report states. “At present, it is the belief of many that the disease is dying down in Warren and vicinity but the health authorities warn the people not to be too sure of themselves as it is liable to assume huge proportions the way it did in many other Pennsylvania cities.”

The report concluded that the county “so far has luckily escaped the worst part of the disease (with) only two sections of the county being seriously affected. Spring Creek has been hit the hardest while Irvineton has been second. The latter is now practically over the disease and the people in that community have little fear now of the epidemic spreading again.”

The Morning Chronicle noted that health officials “are making trips through the county every day but they have no exact means of telling how many cases there are at present as the state law does not require the doctors to report the number of cases they have on hand to the health board.”

They reported that doctors in Warren were reporting “the number of cases on his hands to the health authorities so that the doctors know just how many cases they have but in the county, it is impossible to do so until a state law is passed requiring the doctors to report the number of their cases.”

“Health officers are of the opinion that the disease is remaining stationary throughout the entire county but state that the people should not be less cautious about keeping themselves in good condition.”

“One of the worst things the people can do now,” a health official was quoted as saying, “is to allow themselves to grow lax and consequently be subject to the disease. We are doing everything in our power at present to prevent the spread of it and the only way we can do it is by cooperation on the part of the people. It is only for their own safeguard that we ask them to take precautions.

Cancellations continued — including Liberty Loan Rallies to fund World War I which were necessarily called off because of the influenza epidemic and every committee in the county was working under difficulties.

“In all probability, the theaters, pool rooms, Y.M.C.A. and club rooms will not re-open for a period of at least three weeks longer.”

This is the fifth story on the Spanish Flu of 1918 in Warren County and beyond.